The family of the late Nyanza Provincial Commissioner Isaiah Kiplangat Cheluget has affirmed its ongoing engagement with the government over a long-standing land dispute in Narok South, dismissing earlier contrary statements made by other individuals claiming to represent the family.
Speaking at a press briefing in Nairobi on Saturday, former Principal Secretary Nancy Kirui—speaking on behalf of the family—welcomed the government’s intention to acquire their land for the resettlement of families currently occupying it.
“As the legally appointed administrators and beneficiaries of the estate of the late Isaiah Cheluget, we support the President’s recent remarks in Sogoo, Narok South,” Kirui said. “We have held several meetings with government representatives, including the Principal Secretary for Lands, the Narok Governor, and the Director of Settlements, to work toward a peaceful and lasting resolution.”
Kirui confirmed that the family has formally offered to sell the disputed parcel—L.R. No. ILMOTIOK/CIS-MARA/54, measuring 5,800 acres—to the government for the purpose of resettlement.
“Our late father actively sought an amicable resolution with the government before his passing in 2017. We appreciate the commitment shown by His Excellency the President and the Narok County leadership,” she added.
Kirui also clarified that the High Court in Kericho conclusively settled the matter of estate administration, issuing a confirmation of grant on June 12, 2018.
The court appointed Cheluget’s widow, Raeli Chepkurgat Cheluget, alongside Johnstone Kipkoech Langat, Laurence Kimutai Langat, and Kenneth Kipvegon Langat, as the legal administrators of the estate.
She urged the public to disregard statements from individuals not recognized by the court as official representatives of the family.
The family’s statement follows remarks by President William Ruto during a recent visit to Narok South, where he announced that the government had reached an agreement with the Cheluget family to purchase the land and resettle the occupants.
“We have held discussions with the Cheluget family and agreed to buy the land so that those living there can continue doing so peacefully,” said the President at a public rally in Sogoo.
He directed the newly posted Deputy County Commissioner for Amalo to expedite the process in collaboration with relevant departments.
Roughly 600 individuals have been living on the land since the late 1990s, having entered, subdivided, and settled on it without formal ownership.
Court rulings from both the High Court and the Court of Appeal have upheld the Cheluget family’s legal claim to the property.
Isaiah Cheluget, once a powerful provincial administrator, was officially allocated the land in 1997 and passed away on June 26, 2017.
Kirui reiterated the family’s commitment to a lawful and structured resolution to the matter in coordination with the government.
